LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — As Michigan lawmakers move to restrict foreign land purchases, more than 540,000 acres in the Upper Peninsula are already controlled by a private equity firm reporting ties to Singapore.

The Rohatyn Group (TRG), a New York-based firm, owns the largest share of land in Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties. Much of it was acquired in 2017 and later transferred into LLCs that began reporting foreign ownership to the federal government.

MORE NEWS: University of Michigan’s “Therapists of Color” Program Revised After Tripping Over Civil Rights Law

“This is very troubling,” Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan), who represents most of the U.P., told Bridge Michigan. “It threatens everything.”

The Michigan House gets involved.

The Michigan House recently passed House Bill 4233 to ban land purchases by entities linked to countries of “concern” like China and Iran. Existing foreign owners would be required to register with the state.

Rep. Gina Johnsen (R-Portland), the bill’s sponsor, said it would help expose hidden foreign ownership. 

“There will have to be some investigations done if it’s suspected that a certain business has principles as owners that fall into the category that these bills address,” Johnsen said.

Records show TRG’s land is now held under names like Sage Timber and Verdant Timber—LLCs that shield ownership details. Federal data still lists the outdated company name, highlighting what critics say is a broken tracking system.

National security checks.

The push for change is happening at the national level, too. U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) is pushing federal legislation to require national security checks on foreign land deals. 

MORE NEWS: Michigan Leaders Clash Over Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ as Medicaid Cuts Spark Controversy

“Under our current law, there’s no requirement that foreign buyers be vetted for national security concerns,” Slotkin said in a statement.

Local officials say they’ve had no direct contact with TRG. The land remains open for public use under state tax incentive agreements, even though transparency is lacking.

“It used to be the paper mills owned the land,” Greg Ryskey, Gogebic County’s forestry director, said. “Now it’s investment companies.”